Dredg - El Cielo

I have found that it is a lot harder writing a review for a album you love, then writing one for album you don't really like. When you don't like an album there are things about it that you pick out that you dislike. But what do you do when you don't think anything is wrong with something? How do you describe how amazing it is? That is my problem with Dredg's El Cielo. To me El Cielo is the most refreshing thing to hit the music scene since Nirvana. Not that the band sounds anything at all like Nirvana and not that they are going to start some big musical trend, but it is just so different from everything that is "rock" today. So much more intelligent and worthy of respect. What do they sound like? Well I find it really hard to describe the bands sound, and usually end up saying something like epic rock, almost in a Pink Floydish kind of way. Is that a good description? Probably not, but the music really transcends a genre or cookie cutter description. This album is so full of texture and imagery that it really is almost like an audio journey through an amazing painting, something that the band themselves have said they were trying to achieve. The complex layers and multitude of time changes combined with the addition of elements such as broken trumpet solos, string arrangements, piano solos, and seemingly celestial sound effects give El Cielo a multi-textured sound unlike anything else you will find being released in today's corporate rock world. Dredg is one of those bands that the people who like them, really like them. They often tend to try and push the band on everyone and say things like "this is the best release of the year." Problem is, not everyone gets it. Then again, I think that is part of what makes it so special to those of us that do. There is something in it that we feel, that we connect with. I can only hope that some of you find that same connection. [www.dredg.com]